Let’s tako-bout takoyaki… lame joke? Yes, I know. Takoyaki is basically fried octopus fritters. It starts with a savory batter, to which the cook adds chunks of octopus, tempura crunch, pickled ginger, and green onion. It is fried in a special pan that allows the takoyaki to be made into a sphere shape. The cook rotates the fritters with chopsticks or a metal poker until it’s the perfect shape.
Once it’s all cooked, these fritters are usually covered in a special sauce, mayonnaise, little bits of seaweed called aonori, and some bonito flakes. When it’s all done, the heat makes the bonito flakes dance as they melt on top of the takoyaki. The taste is creamy from the batter but also a very hearty seafood flavor. The sauces complement the seafood perfectly! But watch out, if you’re too eager to eat these, you will scald your entire mouth from the gooey batter inside. It’s best to take a small bite and let the inside cool a bit before you eat these.
We ate these at Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori in Osaka. This shop is right on the main street in Dotonbori. You’ll recognize it right away from the big takoyaki on the front of the building. This was by far the best takoyaki I’ve had. If you’re looking for a nice snack after some karaoke or a full meal, this place has options for several different serving sizes.
Definitely check this place out next time you’re in Osaka!